Immunosenescence and germinal center reaction.
Dysfunction of the immune system in aged individuals includes at least two important factors: accumulation of immunocytes with reduced function and accumulation of lymphocyte clones with self-reactive potential. Coincidently, there is a profound reduction of the germinal center reaction in the aged. While this reduction is likely the result of age-associated impairment in lymphocyte function (e.g. diminished response to costimulus, altered lymphokine production etc.), the reduction of germinal centers may itself make an important contribution to further immunological dysfunction.
Zheng
B
B
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201-1559, USA. bzheng@umabnet.ab.umd.edu
Han
S
S
Takahashi
Y
Y
Kelsoe
G
G
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D013997:Time Factors